Shoe stretcher



Feb. l, 1938. F, CIRELL] 2,107,140

SHOE STRETGHER Filed Jan. 27, 1957 I n venten bwtk; j 1s a orne),

Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to shoe stretchers, particularly to that kind thereof which is adapted to lift or stretch upward the toe portion of the shoe, relative to the sole.

5 One of the objects of my invention is to provide an attachment rto the ordinary broadening shoe stretcher, or that kind thereof which stretches the shoe sidewise, having the attachment adapted to raise the toe portion of the shoe,

as the stretcher expands sidewise.

A further object is to provide a metal shell formation adapted to t over the top of an ordinary widening shoe stretcher, having the shell pivoted at one end to the stretcher, with the lower side edges of the said shell shaped to function in cam relation with the upper side faces of the said stretcher, and thus form an inexpensive and serviceable attachment to an ordinary shoe stretcher, adapting the same to stretch shoes vertically, as well as horizontally.

Another object is to so form the said metal shell as to hav-e a front hooded portion for maintaining the contour of the toe cap of the shoe, while it is being stretched vertically.

A further object is to so form the said metal shell that it will operate more against the :torward top portion of the shoe, than it does against the instep.

With these and other objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in certain structure one embodiment of which is illustrated in the drawing, is hereinafter described and its operation is explained. What I claim is set forth.

Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe width stretcher, having my attachment fitting over it and pivoted thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the stretcher and attachment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the stretcher and attachment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4, of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is another side elevation of the stretcher and attachment shown in the other figures, but here shown with the stretcher partly expanded, and the attachment partly raised by the 55 er than shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8, of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lifter shell attachment.

An ordinary form of shoe stretcher I is shown in the figures. This stretcher has two body halves II and I2, engaging the rod-like projections I3, of the trunnion nut I4, at the holes I5. An inner cam channel I6, having part in each body half, is formed for engagement with the usual wedge head I1, which is swiveled in connection with threaded rod I8. This rod I8 is in threaded engagement with the nut I4 and has a turning handle I9, fixed to its end. Suitable means, not here shown, are used to hold the heel ends of the body halves II and I2, together.

Fitting loosely over the top face 20, of the stretcher` I0, when closed, is the metal shell 2|, having a front over turned portion 22, adapted to fit over the toe end of a closed stretcher. This portion 22 is so curved, that it will t against the inner contour of the toe of a shoe, when the shell is pushed up. Extending rearwardly and integrally, from the front portion of the shell 2l, are the arms 23. The horse shoe shaped lower edge 24, of shell 2l, is rounded transversely at the side portions 25, and so shaped that it will function in cam relation to the inclined face portion 26, of the top face 20, of each, of the halves, II and I2. While the cam portions 25, of the lower edge 24, simply lay along the lower side portions, of the face 20, when the stretcher I0 is closed, they are so shaped and positioned, that they will be in cam relation to the stretcher face 20, as the front end of the stretcher is caused to spread open, as for side stretching of shoes. The shell 2I is pivoted near the top of theheel portion 21, of the stretcher, by having screws 28, pass loosely through holes 29, at the ends of the arms 23, and also through the washers 30, into xed relation with the heel portion 21, of the stretcher I0. It will be noticed that the curved edge 3l, of the shell 2|, is positioned considerably forward from the ends of the arms 23, leaving an open space 32, so that when the stretcher occupies a shoe, that portion of the shoe directly over this space 32, will not be materially stretched by the up-moving shell 2|.

In operation, a closed stretcher I0, is forced well forward into a shoe to be stretched, so that the front portion 22, of the shell 2|, comes directly under the front toe portion of the shoe. Next upon so turning the handle I9, that the wedge head I1 moves forward against the sides of the channels I6, causing the front, or toe end,

of the stretcher to spread open. As the forward part, of the top face 20 engages the side edge portions 25, a further opening of the stretcher halves ll and l2, causes these edges toride up on the inclined face portion 26. In Figures 5 and 6, the section line 6 6 is drawn across a point 33, of the line contact between the edge portion 25 and the face 20, of the stretcher, for the particular relative positions of the shell and stretcher shown in these figures for a partly advanced position of the wedge head l1. As the wedge head I1 is still further advanced to some such position as `is shown in Figure "I, the contact between the edge portions 25 and the inclined face portions 26, moves rearwardly, so that we have a point 34 upon the line of cam contact on the edge portion 25. Through this point 34 in Figure 7 is drawn the section line 8. As the wedge head l1 causes an increased spreading of the toe end of the stretcher, the shell 2|, pivoted at the screws 28', lifts higher and causes an up stretching of the parts of the shoe it comes directly into contact with, inside the shoe. The rounding over of the toe portion 22, of the shell 2 I, preserves the rounded appearance of the toe, of the shoe. Reversing the turning of the rod I8, and the backward movement of the wedge head l1, restores the parts to relatively normal positions, when the stretcher can be withdrawn from the shoe. It will be observed that the stretcher I0, with its shell 2|, thus serves to stretch the forward part of the shoe upward, as well as sidewise.

If it is desired to stretch the forward part of the shoe more upwardthan sidewise, then a lug 2 Ib, is placed upon the front part of the shell 2|, so that the pin 2 Ic of the lug 2 Ib, ts into the hole Zia. When the shell 2l, so equipped with the lug 2lb, is used inside the shoe and shoved into position, as the wedge head Il begins to move forward, a concentrated pressure from the lug 2lb immediately takes place, particularly before any or only a little side stretching takes place. An assortment of various shaped lugs 2lb, can be provided and various holes Zia, in various advantageous positions on the shell 2|, can be made, thus giving the person using the stretcher a'variety of positions to select from in applying a concentrated pressure upward by the lifting of the shell 2|.

Inasmuch as changes in the one embodiment of my invention herein shown and described can be made without departingfrom its spirit and scope, I wish to include all forms thereof which come within the purview of the following claims.

I claim,

l. A shoe stretcher including in combination a stretcher body, of two longitudinal halves held together at a point, at their rear ends and adapted to be spread in angular relation from said point, means for spreading said halves in angular relation, a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper face to each of said halves, a shell pivotally connected with the rear of said body near said point, and extending forward to lie loosely over said faces, cam edges at the sides of said shell, shaped and positioned to come in cam relation to said inclined upper faces, and as said halves are spread in angular relationV to cause said shell to swing upward upon its pivoted end, near said point to lift the front portion of a shoe it may occupy.

2. A shoe stretcher made in accordance with claim 1, having said shell rounded and extending over the forward end of said body, to preserve the rounded appearance of the toe of a shoe being stretched thereby.

`3. In connection with a shoe stretcher which operates by the angular spreading of its longitudinal halves from a point, at the rear end of said stretcher, where said halves are held toigether, and which has a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper face to each of said halves, v

a curved shell overlying the forward end of said faces, and pivoted at its rear end to the rear portion of said stretcher near said point, said shell terminating at its sides in cam edges shaped and positioned to come into cam functioning relation to'said upper faces as said halves are spread in angular relation to cause said shell to lift upward while swinging upon its pivotal connection with the rear of said halves, as said halves of said stretcher spread.

4. In connection with a shoe stretcher which operates by the angular spreading of its longitudinal halves held together at a point near their rear ends, and which has a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper face to each of said halves, a curved shell with side edges, said shell overlapping and conforming to the shape of said faces when they are together and the stretcher closed, the edges of said shell being formed to come in cam relation to said faces, when said stretcher is spread, means for pivoting the rear end of said shell to the rear portion of said stretcher, near said point, said shell having its rear mid-portion cut away forming side arms, which extend rearwardly and are connected with said means. 5. A shoe stretcher made in accordance with claim 1, having in addition a releasable lug posltioned on top of said shell.

FRANK CIRELLI. 

